Fire risk assessments are one of those things that many property owners and business operators in Coventry know they "probably should have" — but aren't always sure if it's legally required for their specific property, or what one actually involves. As a chartered surveyor who carries out fire risk assessments across Coventry and the Midlands, let me clear this up.
The Legal Position
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) is the key piece of legislation. It applies to almost all non-domestic premises in England and Wales — and some residential premises too. Under the RRO, the "responsible person" (typically the employer, owner or manager of the premises) must:
- Carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment
- Identify and implement appropriate fire safety measures
- Keep the assessment under review and update it when circumstances change
- Maintain a written record of the assessment (for premises with 5 or more employees, or where a licence is in force)
Failure to comply with the RRO can result in enforcement action by the fire authority, significant fines, and in serious cases, prosecution.
Who Needs a Fire Risk Assessment?
You need a fire risk assessment if you are the responsible person for any of the following:
- Commercial premises — offices, shops, restaurants, warehouses, retail units
- HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) and blocks of flats
- Licensed premises
- Places of worship, community halls and similar public buildings
- Construction sites
- Hotels, B&Bs and serviced accommodation
- Charities and voluntary organisations occupying non-domestic premises
Single dwellings occupied by one household do not require a fire risk assessment under the RRO — but landlords of HMOs and houses let on ASTs with common areas must have one.
What Does a Fire Risk Assessment Involve?
Our fire risk assessments follow a structured five-step process:
- Identify fire hazards — sources of ignition, fuel and oxygen
- Identify people at risk — including any particularly vulnerable occupants
- Evaluate, remove, reduce or protect — assess the risk level and put appropriate control measures in place
- Record, plan, inform, instruct and train — document the assessment and ensure staff/occupants are appropriately informed
- Review — the assessment must be kept under review and updated when circumstances change
What's Covered in the Inspection?
During our fire risk assessment visit, Marcus Webb will inspect:
- Fire detection and alarm systems
- Emergency lighting provision
- Means of escape routes and exits
- Fire-fighting equipment (extinguishers, blankets, hose reels)
- Structural elements affecting fire compartmentation
- Storage of flammable materials
- Housekeeping and waste management practices
- Electrical safety (visual inspection)
- Signage and wayfinding
"Marcus carried out our fire risk assessment on our Coventry office premises. He was professional, thorough and delivered the report quickly. The action plan was clearly prioritised so we knew exactly what to address first. Excellent service."
— Claire M., Office Manager, Coventry
How Often Do You Need a New Assessment?
There's no fixed interval in law — the RRO requires you to keep the assessment "under review." In practice, most premises should be reviewed annually and whenever significant changes occur: change of use, structural alterations, change of occupancy, a fire incident, or a significant change in the number or type of occupants.
Coventry and the Midlands Coverage
Our fire risk assessment service covers commercial buildings, retail units, residential blocks and HMOs across Coventry, Warwick, Leamington Spa, Rugby, Nuneaton and the wider Midlands. For a professional and reliable assessment with a prompt, clearly written report, get in touch today.
Related reading: Commercial property surveys in Coventry | Our fire risk assessment service
